Primate Okoh, CAN, others caution against legalising same-sex marriage in Nigeria

THE Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has warned that the Federal Government should not think of legalising same-sex marriage in Nigeria, saying such would be totally rejected by the people.

Okoh, who gave the warning yesterday when he led other bishops of the Communion to pay a courtesy call on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State at the Peoples’ House, Makurdi, said they were in the state for their bishops’ conference.

In his remarks, Governor Ortom, who stated that it was not in the custom of Benue people, Nigerians or Africans to practise same-sex marriage, said Nigerians were believers of the Holy Bible, Koran or traditional worshipers and none of them would descend so low into accepting same-sex marriage.

He appealed to the men of God to continue to pray for the success of the nation.

The governor assured the primate that he had resolved to rule his people with the fear of God, pointing out that it was God who single-handedly made him the governor of the state through his people.

Also, the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria, which is the apex body of all Catholic Lay Groups in Nigeria, has described the recent United States (U.S.) Supreme Court judgment legalising same-sex marriage as not only barbaric of the highest order but a big set-back for human civilisation.

Briefing newsmen during a press conference in Abuja, the President of the Council, Chizoba Nnagboh, said by legalising same-sex marriage, the U.S. Supreme Court has set a very precedent which should not be followed by countries, especially developing ones, bent on preserving their cultural values.

He also stated that the very notion of same-sex marriage or same-same co-habitation is an aberration, abhorrent to African sensibilities, and offensive to the norms of any decent human society.

In another development, against the backdrop of his planned visit to the U.S., President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to take stern measures through legislation against same-sex marriage in Nigeria.

Vice Chairman, southern states’ Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop George Amu, also urged African leaders not to succumb to the pressure of advanced countries through loans, grants, aids and foreign assistance to endorse laws that allow same-sex marriage on the African continent.

Speaking at a media parley in Lagos yesterday, Archbishop Amu, who is also the presiding Archbishop of GoodNews Bible Church, Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, described same-sex marriage as evil and totally against God’s decree that man and woman should be fruitful and increase in number.

Archbishop Amu also called on Nigeria’s lawmakers at the National Assembly not to be influenced by any financial or material things to make laws that would encourage the practice of same-sex marriage in the country, reminding them that they would give account before God Almighty or Allah of every law they passed either to improve the lots of the downtrodden people of Nigeria, or create societal menace.

Nnagboh, who said that any nation conscious of replenishing itself and avoiding becoming extinct would not embark on the suicide mission of legalising same-sex union or same-sex marriage, stated that the Laity Council is fully in agreement with the Nigerian Law Reform Commission that homosexuality is an acquired habit that ought to be eradicated and not be transformed into an acceptable human conduct by law.

The Council has also urged the Buhari government to reject the recent call by the United Nations (UN) to legalise abortion in Nigeria because of some rescued pregnant Chibok girls, stating that abortion is murder and should remain banned in Nigeria.

The CAN chief called on all religious leaders (both Christians and Muslims) to embark on the education and counselling of their followers about the danger of same-sex marriage.